Top Things to do in Devon
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What to do and see in Devon, England: The Best Nightlife
From the wilds of Dartmoor to the wooded hillsides of the Lyn Valley, Devon is undoubtedly one of England's most beautiful counties. Its overwhelmingly rural landscape means that catered accommodation is restricted to over-subscribed Bed and Breakfasts and hotels which are mostly concentrated in towns like Exeter and Barnstaple.
Devon is a great location for a family holiday in the great outdoors, with everything from beach resorts at Ilfracombe to rambling in the hills of Exmoor and tors of Dartmoor. It is a large county, but whether you want to follow the Tarka Trail, or walk down the Doone Valley, you can be sure there will be cottages open for holiday rentals nearby.
Most of Devon's holiday rental cottages started as farm buildings of some sort, and planning restrictions mean that many of them retain their rural charm on the outside. However, the cottages are generally renovated to 21st Century standards inside, with double glazing, TV, washing machines and fully-equipped kitchens. Families are well catered for in the higher end properties with games rooms, sometimes including full-size pool tables and large gardens for children to explore.
Despite the unpredictability of Devon's weather even during the summer months, the comfort of these properties gives great peace of mind. Moreover, a week's holiday rental of a cottage in Devon can cost as little as £300 - £400. During the peak season you can spend as much as £900 a month for one of the larger or more luxurious cottages, which still works out to be cheaper than a lot of hotels, especially if you have to book several rooms to accommodate a family of four or five.
To get the best of Devon's startling countryside and its friendly communities, renting a holiday cottage near Lynton and Lynmouth can be a good start. It is a useful base from which to explore North Devon, and is within walking distance of several beauty spots, such as Watersmeet (complete with a small but impressive waterfall) and the Valley of the Rocks. Separated by a steep cliff, you can travel up a funicular railway from coastal Lynmouth to clifftop Lynton, with plenty of stunning walks, shopping opportunities and several beaches and boat trips to nearby coastal attractions.
The twin villages also boast a concentration of well-equipped holiday cottages, from modest fisherman's cottages on the path to Watersmeet to grander hillside houses on the way to the Valley of the Rocks. Whatever your budget, Lynton and Lynmouth can provide some tempting accommodation options for your first Devon holiday.
Restaurants in Devon
1. The Bridge Inn
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 93 reviews
Reviewed By Toby3654 - Devon, United Kingdom
Excellent social distancing measures, very friendly staff, wonderful setting, and (above all) an ever-changing terrific choice of ales. What more could you ask for?
2. The Chill Bar
3. Fortescue
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 281 reviews
A Real Ale & Cider pub in the centre of Mutley Plain. With real tradition and real values. We welcome dogs and children and you can enjoy a delicious roast on a Sunday.
Reviewed By 695luisaw - Plymouth, United Kingdom
A fantastic local pub, with a great selection of real ales and cider. Fabulous atmosphere with friendly, fantastic staff. One of our favourites.....
4. The Kings Arms Holsworthy
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 34 reviews
Reviewed By Footprints798456
Lovely welcome from Ashley and Jill ,made me feel welcome and at home immediately.Spotlessly clean room with all the facilities I needed.Definitely come back when I am in the area.Thank you both.
5. Board
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 137 reviews
The South-West's Award-Winning Board Game Cafe!
Reviewed By eveb825 - Exeter, United Kingdom
Me and my friend are both teenagers and came here on a rainy day and I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the day! The atmosphere was very chilled, the staff were super friendly and we will definitely return !
6. Barbican Botanics Gin Room
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 58 reviews
Reviewed By ls1234x - Plymouth, United Kingdom
Spent a lovely afternoon sat upstairs sharing a gin board with a friend. The atmosphere and setting are lovely and relaxing, and the staff are friendly and attentive without being over bearing! They were great at helping us choose our gins too, from the 200 options! The board is a great idea and great value - 4 gins with tonics and garnishes for £20, plus they make sure you have a fresh glass for each drink. Other drinks are available such as rum, cocktails and prosecco if you fancy something different. Can’t wait to return when the weather is better to sit outside in the garden.
7. Marwood Hill Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 310 reviews
Marwood Hill Garden, Garden Tea Room and Plant Nursery Welcome to this very special private garden tucked secretly away in a Devon valley. Covering some 20 acres, with three beautiful lakes, this tranquil garden will provide a day of both inspiration and relaxation for the whole family.From the moment the first snowdrops poke their little noses through in spring there is so much to see throughout the year until the rich autumnal tints and shiny fat berries of autumn. The magnificent display of blossom from the massed camellias and rhododendrons is followed by a stream of colour in the bog gardens, as carpets of primulas and iris in all the colours of the rainbow, burst forth. The National Collection of Astilbes follows in a foamy symphony of pastel hues and hydrangeas on the hillside, like French petticoats in sky and lilac, sparkle in the sun. We garden with wildlife always in our minds and providing habitats for them is extremely important. Tucked away around the gardens are piles of branches and mounds of leaves home to lots of lovely bugs and beasts! Kingfishers are regular visitors to the lake and the areas of rough grass provide both food and hibernating site for the young of many butterflies and moths. Well behaved dogs on leads welcome. Children under 12 Free.
Reviewed By shirleyk479
What a wonderful garden. We visited on a damp day and were the only people there. A beautifully tranquil visit enhanced by a visit to the lovely tea rooms where we can strongly recommend the ginger scones.
8. Duke of York
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 118 reviews
Reviewed By Collinghamwanderer - Nottingham, United Kingdom
Dropped in for a drink about 4pm on a sunny but cold autumn afternoon. Very welcoming - cosy - good ciders and a pint of Topside served by Trevor, played some dominoes. Tried the chips - plentiful and well cooked (just right after a walk)
9. Ye Olde Cider Bar
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 107 reviews
A traditional cider bar selling mainly Cider, Perry, Fruit Wine & Mead. The building itself dates back to circa 1744, and affiliated with the sale of cider since the 1900's, a visit to Ye Olde Cider Bar is a step back in time. An historic landmark of Newton Abbot and popular with locals as well as visitors from the UK and across the world. We stock a fantastic array of around 30 ciders, sourced from local & independent cider producers, as well as some well known favourites from Thatchers and Westons. With a great choice on offer, there is sure to be a cider to suit everyone! We also offer over 30 fruit wines & meads. Delicious by themselves or very popular as a cooler! Our cider cocktails are a big hit! For non-cider/wine drinkers we have a local lager and some spirits. If you find your favourite - we also offer cider and wine to 'take-away'! Bar snacks - Cheese and Ham Rolls - Hot Pies and Pasties - Pork pies - Off sales
Reviewed By gav1976r - Bristol, United Kingdom
My partner and I are touring pubs in the heritage pub guide. We were told about the cider bar by friendly strangers in the Luppitt Inn near Honiton last year. We booked a table through Facebook and arrived at 7:45. The pub is very spacious and has an old time feel. There is a lovely bar area with hanging glasses and large barrels. We spent a couple of hours here on a Tuesday drinking specialist ciders and fruit wines. The lady working behind the bar was an absolute gem and made some great recommendations. We were made to feel very welcome and would definitely return.
10. Minerva Inn
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 85 reviews
Reviewed By Johnny_vegan - Glastonbury, United Kingdom
The Minerva Inn is the oldest pub in the town of Plymouth, dating from around 1540AD reputedly haunted and with an interesting nautical history, and as we were staying nearby we decided to pop in for a historical visit. Minerva was the virgin goddess of Warriors but as you could actually hear the pub before you could see it, as there appeared to be some dodgy sounding karaoke happening inside, and it made me think there wouldn't be many virgins inhabiting this place. That, combined with a gaggle of unruly looking folk hanging around the front door in what I presume was the smoking area, meant we nearly didn't bother to venture inside. Anyway, thinking at least we could get an anecdote from our visit, we ventured through the front door and the place was packed - admittedly it is quite a small bar. It wasn't a karaoke night, but a duo called JD and Coke playing sounds from the 60s, 70s, 80s etc. Johnny Cash, T-Rex etc. Funnily enough on the chalkboard outside it looked like they were called JD and Cake, and part of me wished they were. [Bill and John were their real names apparently.] Playing along on tamborine to the music was an older lady wearing a hat which said "normal people scare me"...and I think the opposite is also true; and on tambourine 2 was a guy in a Jack Daniels cap, who looked more grizzly than Seasick Steve, and people were getting up to dance at the numbers they recognised on a dancefloor that was about the size of a bath towel. Getting to the bar for a drink was not an easy task, and one local said "it's one out one in, mate", but eventually I was served 2 pints of the requested Korev. It appeared to be a locals pub, and full of great characters of all ages, but the atmosphere was welcoming and friendly, and even one of the duo playing music shook my hand as we left. The decor is old fashioned, and you can just imagine the action it has seem over the years, but now the white beams on the ceilings are covered in graffitti - some of it quite crude. We would have stayed longer than 45 minutes, but we had other places to be. If I lived in Plymouth I think I'd pop in now and again.
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